9 Days For Life 2018

9 Days for Life is a “digital pilgrimage” of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person’s life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. This year’s Respect Life’s theme is “Be Not Afraid”.

This novena begins today January 18th and runs through the 26th. To participate in this novena just go to USCCB website and fill out your info and they will send you a daily message via text or email with a link to the day’s intentions. Or, I will be posting each day’s info here on my blog, and you can follow along here.

This program is very near and dear to my heart. I believe that life is a precious gift from God. A gift so special that it should never be up to any human being to decide to end it.

That is my belief. I realize that everyone who follows my blog doesn’t feel the same way. I hope that you will respect my beliefs even though you may disagree with me and not post unpleasant comments.

Intercession: May a culture of life grow ever stronger in our communities.

Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection: From each tiny child waiting to be born, to people nearing death, all are precious and deserve our care and protection. Women and men suffering after abortion, individuals tempted to end their lives, expectant mothers facing challenging pregnancies, people pushed to the margins of society by a “throwaway culture,” and every other person—each “has a place in God’s heart from all eternity” (Amoris laetitia, 168).

As Pope Saint John Paul II reminds us in The Gospel of Life, we are asked not only to love and honor human life, but also “to work with perseverance and courage” to establish “a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love” (no 77).

Acts of Reparation (choose one):

“Unplug” for some time praying in silence with a short reflection on this year’s Respect Life theme, “Be Not Afraid” (www.usccb.org/be-not-afraid).

Do you love your cup of tea or coffee? Fast from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.

One Step Further: Watching the news and reading the headlines, we may sometimes feel helpless seeing the heartbreaking lack of respect for human life. How do we respond to Pope Saint John Paul II’s invitation when our efforts to make a difference feel small? “How to Build a Culture of Life” (www.usccb.org/culture-of-life) briefly explains where to start.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sailaway from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain